Sharp's Aquos LE640U line is full of big HDTVs with gorgeous pictures, but their interface isn't as polished as other screens.

Looks aren't everything, and an HDTV doesn't have to be flashy to have a great panel. The Sharp Aquos LE640U series consists of LED-backlit HDTVs that don't have much visual flair in their physical design or interface, but their low black levels and bright, crisp picture make them a good choice if you're looking for the best big picture you can pick up for under $2,000. For $1,899.99 (list) for the 60-inch LC-60LE640U, you get that big screen, built-in Wi-Fi and access to many streaming services, and a handful of advanced calibration features.

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DesignVery plain looking, the set's flat black bezel is distinguished only by a slight taper on the top and bottom and a Sharp logo and a glowing inverse "V" on the bottom edge. The right edge of the screen holds basic controls, including Power, Menu, Input, Channel, and Volume buttons. Four HDMI ports and a USB port sit on the back panel facing left, and the coaxial cable, Ethernet port, optical audio, and VGA inputs face downward. The component and composite video inputs sit between them, facing straight back, and making it slightly awkward to mount the HDTV on a wall.

The 9.5-inch remote is plain and flat, with plain, flat buttons. The navigation pad sits a bit low on the remote and feels small compared with the less frequently used number pad, but it's easy to find with your thumb unlike the other buttons. A large, red button lives right under the direction controls, offering easy and quick access to Netflix.

Sharp lags behind other HDTV manufacturers when it comes to interface style, and this set's text-heavy, blocky menu system continues the trend. While Sony and LG HDTVs, like the Sony KDL-46EX620 ($809.99, 3.5 stars) and LG 55LM6700 ($1,699.99, 4 stars) have created interfaces with large, colorful icons and very little text, the 60LE640U's menus are generally text first, icon later. Under the comparatively unattractive interface, though, is a powerful set of tools for calibrating the HDTV, including six-color hue and saturation adjustments. The good news is that you get wireless access to plenty of online media streaming services and apps including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, and others, thanks to integrated Wi-Fi.

PerformanceWe test HDTVs with a Konica-Minolta CS-200 chromameter and the DisplayMate test software, and the 60LE640U did very well. After basic brightness and contrast calibrations, the HDTV reached a peak white level of 366.65 cd/m2 and hit a very dark black level of 0.03 cd/m2, resulting in an impressive contrast ratio of 12,221:1. These levels are comparable but don't quite hit the deep blacks of the 70-inch, 3D-capable Editors' Choice Sharp Aquos LC-70LE735U ($4,799.99, 4 stars). Reds and greens were accurate, but blues were moderately skewed. This didn't seem to significantly affect white or grey levels, and flesh tones remained accurate. Since there are so many advanced color settings, you can fine-tune the HDTV to your preferred calibration standards.

Overall, the picture looked excellent in my tests. I watched Predator on Blu-ray, and flesh colors from Jesse Ventura to Carl Weathers looked neutral and clear. Details in the shadows cast by the jungle were visible and the great contrast ratio showed in scenes with the bright green foliage standing against the shade of the canopy. The Big Lebowski looked similarly good, with plenty of color without looking cartoonish in the gaudy lighting of the bowling alley.

In our energy-consumption tests the 60LE640U's performance was mediocre. Without any power-saving features turned on, it consumes an average of 150 watts, and with power saving set to standard, it consumes a much better 115 watts. An advanced power saving mode adjusts screen brightness and backlight to fit the picture, but it dims the HDTV too much to be acceptable. If you want a very energy efficient HDTV, the LG 55LM6700 consumes an average of just 48 watts at the expense of just five diagonal inches of screen size.

The Sharp Aquos LC-60LE640U offers an excellent picture on a big screen at an affordable price, but a less-than-stellar menu system and so-so power consumption is part of the bargain. If you don't mind trading a higher price and a smaller screen for 3D support and even more online features, our Editor's Choice LED LCD HDTV, the Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929 ($2,899.99, 4.5 stars) is an excellent choice. If you can spend more (granted, three times as much) on an even bigger screen, the Sharp LC-70LE735U still stands as our Editors' Choice for big-screen HDTVs.

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About the Author

Will Greenwald has been covering consumer technology for a decade, and has served on the editorial staffs of CNET.com, Sound & Vision, and Maximum PC. His work and analysis has been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com, and several other publications. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PC Labs as the in-house home entertainment expert... See Full Bio

Sharp Aquos LC-60LE640U

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